Operating table having separable top



966 R. s. CARLSON 3,227,439

OPERATING TABLE HAVING SEPARABLE TOP Filed May 10, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HVVENTUR.

WSW

Jan. 4, 1966 R. s. CARLSON 3,227,439

OPERATING TABLE HAVING SEPARABLE TOP Filed May 10, 1962 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Flea [14 United States Patent 3,227,439 OPERATING TABLE HAVING SEPARABLE TOP,

Robert S. Carlson, Bruges, Belgium, assignor, by mesne' This invention is an operating table having an articulated demountable top contoured to fit the major parts of the body. The contoured sections provide improved support for all sizes of patients. Seperate demountable tops are used for the supine (face up), prone (face down), and unilateral (side) positions. The tops are readily interchangeable, thereby extending the utility of the basic operating table structure.

In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an operating table equipped with a top for supporting a patient in the supine or face up position, FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the top in position to be mounted upon a stretcher cart. FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section of the support for the top, FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic side view of a unilateral top and FIG. 5 is a side view of a top for supporting the patient in a prone position.

In the drawing, 1 indicates diagrammatically a base for an operating table having a housing 2 containing the mechanism for positioning the pedestal 3. At the upper end of the pedestal is a universal or ball joint 4 having a movable part 5 fixed to the stem6 of a table supporting bracket 7. The joint 4 permits tilting of the supporting bracket 7 in any desired angular position relative to the post 3 and when the selected position is reached, the joint is locked to prevent unwanted movement from that position. The parts so far described are or may be of common construction and permit any desired elevation and tilt of the bracket 7.

The table top illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a head section 8 hinged on a horizontal axis at 9 to the upper end of a back section 10 at a position corresponding to the neck and adjustably positioned by mechanism 11. The lower end of the back section is hinged on a horizontal axis at 12 to a seat section 13 at a position corresponding to the waist and adjustably positioned by mechanism 12a. The seat section is fixed to a frame 14 and individual leg sections 15 are pivoted on the frame and lockable at various degrees on the vertical axes at 16 in positions corresponding to the hip joints. Arm sections 17 may be pivoted on the body section at points 16a corresponding to the shoulders. All of the sections are individually dished or contoured to cradle the patients body and provide comfortable and proper support for all sizes of patients. The articulation of the various sections of the table top and the elevating and tilting movements of the bracket 7 permit the operating site to be brought into any desired position.

The supporting bracket 7 has spaced horizontal pins 18 slidably received in tubes 19 (FIG. 3) fixed in the frame 14. This provides a quick detachable connection so the top is readily mounted. The weight of the patient provides suificient friction to hold the pins in the tubes. By having the stretcher cart 20 provided with a similar supporting bracket 7a and pins 18a, it is possible to Patented Jan. 4, 1966 mount the patient on the top while supported on the stretcher bracket 7a and then transfer the table top with the patient thereon to the operating table bracket 7.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show unilateral and prone table tops which may be interchangeably mounted on the supporting bracket 7. Both of these tops are made up of contoured sections. The unilateral top has a head section 21 hinged on a horizontal axis at 22 to the upper end of a body section 23. In the body section there is an arm hole 24 and a depending adjustable arm support 25. At the lower end of the body section is a seat section 26 hinged on a horizontal axis at 27. The leg section 28 is not articulated to the seat section, although it could be if desired. The prone top has a head section 29 articulated to the upper end of the body section 30 and a seat section 31 articulated to the body section 30 and to the leg section 32 through the intermediary at the frame 14. As in the supine top, the joints for the prone top are located in positions corresponding to the neck, waist, and hips. These joints, in conjunction with the contouring of the sections, provide adequate support.

The interchangeability of the demountable tops extends the use of the operating tables without correspondingly increasing the cost because the base and associated mechanism may be used with any of the tops.

What is claimed as new is:

1. An operating table comprising a base having a supporting bracket with two horizontally directed pins arranged side by side, a demountable top comprising contoured head, body, seat and leg sections, joints respectively connecting the head and body sections at the neck, the body and seat sections at the waist and the seat and leg sections at the hips, a frame fixed to said seat section, and in sockets in said frame slidably receiving said pins.

2. An operating table comprising a base having a supporting bracket with two horizontally directed pins arranged side by side, a demountable top comprising contoured head, body, seat and leg sections, joints respectively connecting the head and body sections at the neck, the body and seat sections at the waist and the seat and leg sections at the hips, a frame fixed to said seat section, and horizontal tubes in said frame providing sockets open at opposite ends for receiving said pins.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 513,584 1/1894 Leisenring.

765,389 7/1904 Lawrence 3116 926,579 6/ 1909 Laughlin 311-7 1,499,013 6/ 1924 Gunther. 1,650,327 11/1927 Conrad 311-7 2,037,888 4/ 1936 Quervain 3117 2,092,266 9/ 1937 Talas 3117 2,186,660 1/1940 Alopaeus 311-7 2,581,646 1/ 1952 Froelich 269-322 2,751,268 6/1956 Creeman 3115 2,972,505 2/ 1961 Weickgenannt.

ROBERT C. RIORDEN, Primary Examiner.

G. LEO BREHM, Examiner. 

1. AN OPERATING TABLE COMPRISING A BASE HAVING A SUPPORTING BRACKET WITH TWO HORIZONTALLY DIRECTED PINS ARRANGED SIDE BY SIDE, A DEMOUNTABLE TOP COMPRISING CONTOURED HEAD, BODY, SEAT AND LEG SECTIONS, JOINTS RESPECTIVELY CONNECTING THE HEAD AND BODY SECTIONS AT THE NECK, THE BODY AND SEAT SECTIONS AT THE WAIST AND THE SEAT AND LEG SECTIONS AT THE HIPS, A FRAME FIXED TO SAID SEAT SECTION, AND IN SOCKETS, IN SAID FRAME SLIDABLY RECEIVING SAID PINS. 